Machine for closing cans



J3 "Ill/I Oct. 31, 1939. v H .TT 2,177,813

MACHINE FOR CLOSING CANS Filed Jan. 20, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet l I a v J2 I 96 1 9 J0 14 at? J0 a] I I I E '2 J43 I 1 2 .37 w MI I J; i

J g; V Y 15 E I a? y '14 2 L by W 7 y f 3 a-QJ I J44 ATTORNEYS o.- A. SCHMITT 2,177,813

MACHINE FOR CLOSING CANS Filed Jan. 20, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Oct. 31, 1939. 0, $HM|TT 2,177,813

MACHINE FOR CLOSING CANS Filed Jan. 20, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 w ,[j I 9 4 .2;

ATTORNEY'J Patented Oct. 31, 1939 ATEVNT'. oFFics MACHINE FOR CLOSING CAN S Otto A. Schmitt, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York,

N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 20, 1938, Serial No. 185,950

1 14 Claims.

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in a machine for. closing cans, and. more particularly to improvements in the can closing machine shown and described in the pati the presence of the inert gas.

An object of the invention is to provide a more efiicient arrangement of the sealing'gasket which forms an hermetic joint between the turret and the table structure at the time when the can is positioned beneath the seaming head for the final treatment and closing operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a means for directing the can over the sealing gasket and on to the can support at the seaming station, and for insuring the passing of the can over the gasket as it is moved away from the seaming station. Y

A still further object of the invention is to provide a means for positively centering the can beneath the seaming head prior to the chucking of the same for the seaming operation.

These and other objects will in part be obvious and will in part be hereinafter more fully disclosed.

The machine as noted above is of the general type of that described in detail in the patent granted Alfred L. Kronquest, and therefore, only a portion of the machine is shown for the purpose of illustrating the novel features which will hereinafter be described in detail.

In the drawings-,

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through the seaming head, the casing or hell enclosing the same, the turret and the support for the turret, and also the can support located beneath the seaming head; r

Fig. '2 is a view partly in'plan and partly in section showing the turret, the table beneath the turret, the member which closes the open side of the pocket in the turret at the seaming station, the means for seating the cans in the pockets of the turret, and the canways which direct the cans into and away from the turret;

Fig. 3 is 'a View in side elevation showing a portion of the table, the turret, the member which closes the side of the pocket in the turret,

and the means for seating the cans in the pockv ets;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of thetable, the can support at the seaming station, the sealing pad with which the turret makes contact, the memher for closing the open side of the pocket, and the ramps for directing the cans over the sealing pad and on to and off from the can support;

Fig. 5 is a sectional viewon the line 5--5 of Fig. 4; i

Fig. 6 is a detail partly in plan and partly in horizontal section,showing a portion of the turret, a portion of the member for closing the pocket in the turret, and the abutted ends of the stationary ring section and the floating ring section, a

and

Fig. 7 is a Fig. 6. 1

The machine includes a framework I on which is mounted a rotating seaming head 2. Said seaming head is carried by a shaft 3. The seaming rolls are mounted on vertically disposed shafts 4, 4, and are actuated by the cam 5 which in turn is mounted on a shaft 6. The shaft 6 is given a differential rotation relative to the shaft 3; Centrally-of the seaming head is a chuck 1 carried by a sleeve 3. The chuck does notrotate, but the seaming head rotates about the chuck. Centrally of the sleeve 8 is a rod 9 carrying an ejector pad II! for stripping thecans from the chuck after the completion of the seaming operation. Surrounding the seaming head is a casing or bell I l which is mounted for up and down movement, but which does not rotate. This bell has an hermetic sealed joint connection with the rotating seaming head. The means for rotating the seaming head, the seaming cam, and the moving of the bell or casing, are all shown and described in detail in the Kronquest patent, and further description of the same is not thought necessary.

Supported on the frame I is a table H on to which the cans are. delivered through a oanway 13. Associated with the table is a rotating turret M which receives the cans from the canway l3 and conveys the same beneath the seaming head. This turret i4- is mounted for rotation on a shaft 15. The shaft 15 is in turn keyed to a sleeve is and the sleeved-5 is fixed to the turret and serves as a supporting means therefor. This sleeve l6 rests on the upper end of an abutment sleeve I! supported on a ball hearing which in turn is supported by springs I8. The sleeve Ma is rotated and imparts a rotation to the turret. The springsnormally hold the turret raised above the table as indicated, in Figure 1. The means 55 sectional view on the line of for rotating the sleeve I 4a and for rotating the turret is similar to that in the Kronquest patent. The means for connecting the turret to the shaft has been modified to a certain extent, so as to permit the turret to move up and down to a limited extent, while the shaft which rotates the turret has no up and down movement.

Directly beneath the seaming head is a can support Hi. This can support H] has a depending stem 29 mounted in a sleeve 2| and resting on a spring 22. The sleeve 2! is attached to a collar 23 which in turn is connected to a yoke member 24 which is reciprocated by means of a cam 25. Thus it is that the can support is raised to bring the can indicated at C in Figure 1, into contact with the chuck and into range of the seaming rolls of the seaming head for the doubleseaming of the can end to the can body. This reciprocating means for the can support is also shown and described in detail in the Kronquest patent. 1

It may be stated briefly that the cans are delivered through the canway !3 by a suitable can feeding mechanism and placed in succession in the pockets of the turret, which is rotated intermittently so as to bring the cans with the ends clinched thereto preparatory to double-seaming, to the seaming station. After the ends have been seamed to the cans, then the turret is again rotated so as to carry the cans to a position where they are discharged into the canway 26. After the can is placed by the turret at the seaming station, it comes to a stop, and the bell I l is moved down, contacting with the turret and forcing the turret down against a yielding spring support l8 until the turret makes sealing contact with the table and a member carried by the table which closes the open side of the pocket. This member is indicated at 2'! in the drawings. It is rigid with the table and has its inner face curved to conform to the curvature of the turret, and also inclined or tapered outwardly in an upward direction. The face of the turret is tapered to conform to the taper of this shoe member 21, so that when the turret is moved downward through engagement of the bell therewith, the two' tapered surfaces will come into contact, thus closing the pocket in the turret immediately beneath the seaming head at the sides thereof. Mounted on the frame which supports the table I2 is a sealing pad 28 of suitable elastic material. This sealing pad has a raised relatively wide rib 29 with which the bottom of the turret makes contact. The sealing rib extends all the way around the pocket in the turret and beneath the member or shoe 2'! which closes the pocket of the turret during the seaming operation.

The bell or casing ll carries an elastic sealing ring 38. In order that the extent of movement imparted to the bell may be limited without this sealing ring contacting with the turret as it positions the cans at the seaming station and conveys the same therefrom, a plate 3| is provided which is located beneath the bell. This plate has a central opening through which the can and end to be attached thereto passes for engagement with the chuck of the seaming head. The plate is supported on the bell by a plurality of pins 32 which are fixed to the plate and are provided with spaced fixed collars. Adjustable pins 34 are mounted in lugs carried by the bell. The pin is held in adjusted position by a set screw 35. At the lower end of the pin is a head which is extended laterally and notched so as to provide a fork which straddles the pin 32. This head lies between the collars on the supporting pin. There is a plurality of these supporting pins, and the plate has a free independent movement in each supporting pin. The supporting pins are adjusted so that the plate compresses the gasket slightly when the plate is resting on the upper collars, and the pin is raised. There is very little clearance between the plate and the turret. The opposing surfaces of the plate and the turret are smoothly finished and when brought into contact by a downward movement of. the bell, it produces an airtight joint. Due to the spacing of the collars, the bell can move downwardly after the plate contacts with the turret, further compressing the gasket. Due to the universal mounting of the plate, a very tight joint can be obtained, even though the axis of the bell is slightly off from a right angle to the top of the turret. If no plate were provided and the gasket made direct contact with the turret, as in the Kronquest patent, then the bell would have to be moved a greater distance away from the turret so as to be sure and free the gasket when it expands from further contacting with the turret. By the arrangement of this plate, the speed of the machine can be greatly increased, and the wear on the gasket is negligible. When the bell moves downward into engagement with the turret, the turret is forced downward into tight sealing contact with the sealing pad beneath the same and thus an airtight chamber is formed about the can at the seaming station. After the chamber is formed, then it may be subjected to a suitable vacuum creating means for drawing the air from the chamber thus formed. The bell is shown as having an opening 36 with which a suitable pipe is connected leading to a control valve and from the control valve connection is made to the vacuum creating means. There is also a part 31 in the shoe 2'! which leads to the 'chamber in which the can is placed, and this is likewise connected to the valve and through the valve to the vacuum creating means. This valve may be shifted so as to connect with the means for supplying the inert gas under pressure. The manner of creating the vacuum in the chamber after it is closed, and the gassing of the chamber, is described in detail in the Kronquest patent.

One of the features of the present invention is the supporting of the gasket on the frame with the raised projecting rib with which the turret makes contact. This raised rib of the gasket made it necessary to provide a means for passing the cans over the gasket and on to the can support. This is accomplished by the mechanism shown in Figures 4 and 5. At the feed-in side of the can support 19 is a ramp 38. This ramp, as shown, is mounted on a pivot pin 39 supported by a lug 40 which in turn is carried by the framework beneath the table. The table is provided with a recess or cutaway portion so that the end of the ramp in the region of the pivotal support is on a level with the table so that the can may be moved by the turret off the table l2 and on to the ramp with no chance for a jam. The ramp is spring-pressed upwardly by a spring M, and the upward movement of the free end of the ramp is limited by a set screw 52 which extends through a guiding rail 43 carried by the table. Mounted on the ramp and movable therewith is a lug 44 which extends laterally beneath the guiding rail and into range of the set screw. This ramp extends over the elastic pad 28 to a point adjacent the rib 29 thereon. The free end of the ramp is raised by the spring to a set position so that the can as it moves along the ramp will move over the elastic rib 29 and onto the can support which'is positioned substantially on a level with the upper set position of the ramp. Thus it is that the can is moved over the elastic pad and on to the can support without contacting therewith. At the other side of the can support I9 is a ramp 45 of similar construction. The ramp is mounted on a pivot pin 46 carried by a lug 41. It is lifted by a spring 48 and a set screw 49 contacting with a lug 50 limits the upward movement of the free end of this ramp. The ramp is setso that the can body moving from the can support IE! will be free from engagement with the elastic rib 29, and the can passes off from the ramp on to the table without any chance of a jam because the pivoted end of the ramp is on a level with the table.

It is obvious that other ways may be devised forpr'oviding a yielding support which directs thecan bodies from the table over the sealing pad on to the can support. When the turret moves down to close the chamber at the seaming station, it contacts with the free ends of the ramps and the ramps yield so that the turret comes into contact with the sealing rib on the "elastic pad, and thus a tight seal is formed at the lower side of the turret pocket.

It is essential that the can shall be centered under the seaming station. The pockets of the turret are so shaped that if the can is fully seated, that is, moved back into the pocket until it contacts therewith, it will be properly centered when brought beneath the seaming head. There is a guide rail 43 which is carried by the table and which extends all the way around the turret from the receiving canway to the delivery canway. This guide rail is cut away at 43c which is in the region of the can support so as to free the cans for upward movement into contact with the chuck when the can support is raised. Mounted on the can support is a positioning lug the inner face of which is in alinement with the inner face of the guide rail 43. In addition to this guide rail and the centering lug 5|, a floating ring has been provided for positively seating the can in the pocket at the seaming station. The floating ring is indicated at 52 in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings. The turretis provided with a recess 53 which extends all the way around the turret. The upper wall 5 4 of the recess is parallel with the lower wall 55 thereof. The floating ring 52 is located in this recess and is so dimensioned that it fits closely the walls 54 and 56. The outer face of the ring 52 is tapered as indicated in Figure '1, so as to conform with the taper of the turret and the taper of the closing member or shoe 2? which closes the pocket. Between one end of this floating ring 52 and the receiving canway is is a similar ring 56 which is fixedly mounted on posts 5'5, 51. The ring 5'6 lies in the recess 53, but is narrower than the recess, so that it is spaced away from the walls 54 and 55 a sufficient distance to permit the turret to move down into sealing contact with the pad on the table. The end of the fixed ring 56 contacts with one end of the floating ring 52, and prevents said into sealing contact with the pad. It also serves as an abutment to prevent the floating ring 52 from moving endwise in the opposite direction, or away from the fixed ring 56.

When the cans leave the canway l3, they are moved all the way into the pockets of the turret, and as the turret rotates, it Will be brought into contact with the fixed ring 56 which will cause the can to move well back toward the inner side of the pocket. The can will move away from the fixed ring and into contact with the floating ring as it comes to the closing station. When the turret moves downward for the purpose of closing the pocket and forming a chamber which may be vacuumized, the ring 52 contacting with the shoe 2'! will be positively moved inward toward the center of the turret and insure that the can will be seated in the turret and properly centered beneath the seaming head. The turret pocket has projecting seating ribs which contact with the central portion of the can and this permits the canto be moved freely in a vertical direction after it is centered forbringing the same into engagement with the chuck. This is accomplished by the upward movement of the can support. I

It is thought that the operation of the devices for directing the can on to and oiT from the can support, for the centering of the can on the support, and the sealing of the lower end of the pocket in the turret, have been made clear during the detail description of these devices, and further description thereof is not thought necessary.

It is obvious that changes inthe details of construction and the arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as. set forth inthe appended claims.

Having'thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A closing machine comprising a seaming head, a bell for enclosing the seaming head, a turret having open-sided can pockets, a support beneath the turret on which the cans are moved to and fromthe seaming station, means for closing the open side of the turret pocket at the seaming station, a sealing pad disposed beneath the turret, and means for moving the bell into contact with the turret and the turret into contact -with the sealing pad for forming a closed chamber about the can, said last-named means including a sealing gasket carried by and projecting from the lower face of said bell, and a ring plate disposed between the gasket and the turret, said ring plate being freely suspended on said bell. I

2. A closing machine comprising a seaming head, a bell for enclosing the seaming head, a turret having open-sided can pockets, a support beneath the turret on which the cans are moved to and from the seaming station, means for closing the open side of the turret pocket at the seaming station, an elastic sealing pad disposed heneath the turret on said can support, and means for moving the bell into contact with the turret and the turret into contact with the sealing pad for forming a closed chamber turret having open-sided can pockets, a support beneath the turret on which the cans are moved to and from the seaming station, means for closing the open side of the turret pocket at the seaming station, a sealing pad disposed beneath the turret, and means for moving the bell into contact with the turret and the turret into contact with the sealing pad for forming a closing chamber about the can, said sealing pad having a raised rib with which the turret makes con tact, said supporting means on which the cans are moved including yielding sections disposed so as to direct the cans over the rib on the sealing pad and on to the can support, said sections yielding when contacted by the turret for permitting said turret to make sealing engagement with the rib on the sealing pad.

4. A closing machine for cans comprising a seaming mechanism including a seaming head and a chuck, a can support disposed beneath the seaming head, a yieldingly mounted turret for moving the cans beneath the seaming head, a sealing pad extending about the can support and having a raised rib, a support beneath the turret on which the cans are moved to and from the seaming head, said support on which the cans are moved including yielding sections normally disposed above said rib for directing the cans over the rib on to the can support, said sections yielding when the turret contacts therewith to permit the turret to make sealing engagement with the rib.

5. A closing machine for cans comprising a seaming mechanism including a seaming head and a chuck, a can support disposed beneath the seaming head, a yieldingly mounted turret for moving the cans beneath the seaming head, a sealing pad extending about the can support and having a raised rib, a support beneath the turret on which the cans are moved to and from the seaming head, said support on which the cans are moved including a table, an inclined yieldingly mounted ramp between the table and the rib of the sealing pad having the end thereof adjacent the rib normally disposed above the rib for directing the cans over the rib on to the can support beneath the seaming head.

6. A closing machine for cans comprising a seaming mechanism including a seaming head and a chuck, a can support disposed beneath the seaming head, a yieldingly mounted turret for moving the cans beneath the seaming head, a sealing pad extending about the can support and having a raised rib, a support beneath the turret on which the cans are moved to and from the seaming head, said support on which the cans are moved including a table, a ramp disposed between the table and the rib on the sealing pad, said ramp being pivotally supported by the table, with the pivoted end of the ramp substantially flush with the table, a spring for yieldingly lifting the free end of the ramp adjacent the rib, and an adjustable stop for limiting the upward movement of the ramp whereby said ramp may be normally set so as to direct the cans over the rib on to the can support beneath the seaming head.

'7. A closing machine for cans comprising a seaming mechanism including a seaming head and a chuck, a can support disposed beneath the seaming head, a yieldingly mounted turret for moving the cans beneath the seaming head, a sealing pad extending about the can support and having a raised rib, a support beneath the turret on which the cans are moved to and from the seaming head, said support on which the cans are moved including a yieldingly mounted ramp at each side of the can support, with the end of each ramp adjacent the can support normally positioned so as to direct the can over the rib as it passes on to and off from the can support.

8. A closing machine for cans comprising a seaming mechanism including a seaming head and a chuck, a can support disposed beneath the seaming head, a yieldingly mounted turret for moving the cans beneath the seaming head, a sealing pad extending about the can support and having a raised rib, a support beneath the turret on which the cans are moved to and from the seaming head, said support on which the cans are moved including a table section at each side of the can support spaced away from the can support, a ramp hinged to each table section and terminating at its free end adjacent the rib, a spring for yieldingly raising the free end of each ramp, and an adjustable stop for limiting the upward movement of the free end of each ramp, whereby said ramps may be positioned so that the cans will move over the rib on to the support and over the rib ofi from the support without contacting with the rib.

9. A machine for closing cans comprising a seaming mechanism including a seaming head and a chuck, a can support beneath said chuck, a turret having open-sided pockets for receiving and moving the cans to and from the seaming mechanism, a floating ring section supported by said turret and bridging the open side of a pocket when said pocket is positioned beneath the seaming head, and means contacting with said ring for positively seating the can in the pocket and centering the same beneath the seaming head.

10. A machine for closing cans comprising a seaming mechanism including a seaming head and a chuck, a can support beneath said chuck, a turret having open-sided pockets for receiving and moving the cans to and from the seaming mechanism, a floating ring section supported by said turret and bridging the open side of a pocket when said pocket is positioned beneath the seaming head, means contacting with said ring for positively seating the can in the pocket and centering the same beneath the seaming head, and means for preventing endwise movement of the ring when the turret is rotated.

11. A closing machine for cans comprising a seaming mechanism including a seaming head and a chuck, a bell for enclosing the seaming mechanism, a can support beneath said chuck, a yieldingly mounted, intermittently rotated turret having open-sided pockets for receiving and positioning the can beneath the seaming head, means associated with the turret for closing the pocket when the bell is moved downwardly into contact with the turret, and means for entering the can in the pocket beneath the seaming head including a floating ring supported in a recess in the turret and bridging a pocket when said pocket is beneath the seaming head, said ring having a close fitting connection with the turret so as to move up and down therewith and a free movement radially of the turret, means for preventing said ring from moving endwise during the rotation of the turret, and means for moving said ring toward the center of the turret for positively seating the can in the pocket and centering the same beneath the seaming head.

12. A closing machine for cans comprising a seaming mechanism including a seaming head and a chuck, a bell for enclosing the seaming mechanism, a can support beneath said chuck, a yieldingly mounted, intermittently rotated turret having open-sided pockets for receiving and positioning the can beneath the seaming head, means associated with the turret for closing the pocket when the bell is moved downwardly into contact with the turret, means for centering the can in the pocket beneath the seaming head including a floating ring supported in a recess in the turret and bridging a pocket when said pocket is beneath the seaming head, said ring having a close fitting connection with the turret so as to move up and down therewith and a free movement radially of the turret, a stationary ring section at each end of the floating ring, said stationary ring sections being of less width than the recesses and extending into said recesses and abutting against the ends of the floating ring for preventing the same from endwise movement when the turret is rotated, and means for moving the floating ring toward the center of the turret for positively seating the can in the pocket and centering the same beneath the seaming head.

13. A closing machine comprising a seaming head, a bell for enclosing the seaming head, a turret having open-sided can pockets, 2, support beneath the turret on which the cans are moved to and from the seaming station, means for closing the open side of the turret pockets at the seaming station, a sealing means disposed beneath the turret, a plate supported by said bell and mov- I able relative thereto, a gasket between the bell and plate, and means for moving the bell to cause the plate to contact with the turret and the turret to contact with the sealing means beneath the same for forming a closed chamber about the can.

14. A closing machine comprising a seaming head, a bell for enclosing the seaming head, a turret having open-sided can pockets, a support beneath the turret on which the cans are moved to and from the seaming station, means for closing the open side of the turret pockets at the seaming station, a sealing means disposed beneath the turret, a plate disposed beneath said bell, means for connecting said plate to said bell so that it may have a limited movement relative to the bell, a gasket between the bell and the plate, said supporting means normally holding the plate so that the gasket isslig-htly compressed, and means for moving the bell to cause the plate to contact with the turret and the turret to contact with the sealing means beneath the same for forming a closed chamber about the can. 

